Living in south Florida, the seasons don't change like everywhere else. Looking at the typographic landscape here, it is always the same--"very green." Am I complaining about the greenness of this place? No way, this place isparadise and we south Floridians know it. Flip flops, tank tops, the beach, andeasy living is our motto. Summer is our way of life--rest, relax, chill, drink,be merry and enjoy life then start all over again. Sometimes, we take thesummer for granted and forget that summer can't always last forever. Thismorning as we woke up to a very cold 39 degrees we were reminded that "there isa season for everything and everyone."Consider this parable: There was a man who had four sons. He wanted hissons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest,in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The firstson went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and theyoungest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called themtogether to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree wasugly, bent, and twisted. The second son disagreed, saying it was covered withgreen buds and full of promise. The third son also disagreed he said it wasladen with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was themost graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them hesaid it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment. The manthen explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seenbut only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge atree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are andthe pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at theend, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it's winter, you will missthe promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment ofyour fall.

​I have lost someone that I love in every season; my Grandmother in thewinter, my Grandfather in the spring, my Mom in the summer and my Dad in thefall. Yet I have found reverence, renewal, rest, and reflection in all of theirseasons. I have learned that winter is inevitable. It gets cold and thingswither away, sometimes the very thing that we love the most, winter takes away. Winter can be bleak, colorless, and dry--in our lives we can be overlooked,alone and depressed--spiritually barren. But just as we think winter is goingto stay, God changes the landscape and spring arrives. Spring is a time of newbeginnings. It is a time for us to be patient. It is a time of seeing seedsthat have been planted grow into new relationships, new connections, and newopportunities. The cold blast of winter gone, springs says hope has arrived.Spring stays for a moment and then summer's beauty and bliss is embraced byall--a time to rest and relax. It is a time of productivity and joy; all thatwe have worked for has finally come--"we stop and smell the roses." Don't missthis season by continuing to be busy doing things that really don't matter. When summer shows up, enjoy it! Enjoy summer, because fall comes to us when weleast expect it. After summer's relaxation, we must reflect. Fall is a time togain new perspective; a time to be grateful and count our blessings. The bottomline: live life fully through all the seasons and make the most of what God hasgiven you. LET'S LIVE LIKE WE ARE CONNECTED TO THE SOURCE. This is Tuesdaytalk--I hope you heard me.

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Blogger Bio:

Theda Okona is a former storyteller and co-host for an internet radio broadcast. She lives to be inspired. Adjunct Professor at Miami Dade College, Writer, Speaker, Vocalist and Author of Clouds of Grace--she has a Master of Arts in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English.